Parents demand action on bullying after student’s death | Madison-Morgan Community Food Pantry To Deliver Hot Holiday Meals On Thanksgiving Day | Rotary clubs help fill empty stockings this Christmas

EAST METRO Top Stories for November 21st Publish Date: November 21st     Commercial: From the Ingles Studio, Welcome to The Community Podcast. This Podcast brings you the top stories from the Rockdale-Newton Citizen and the Morgan Citizen.   Today is Friday, November 21st and Happy birthday to Stan The Man Musial I’m Peyton Spurlock and here are your top stories presented by Times Journal Parents demand action on bullying after student’s deathMadison-Morgan Community Food Pantry To Deliver Hot Holiday Meals On Thanksgiving DayRotary clubs help fill empty stockings this Christmas Plus, Leah McGrath from Ingles Markets on rice   These stories and more are coming up in today’s edition of the Community Podcast for Rockdale, Newton, and Morgan Counties! Please like, follow, and subscribe.   BREAK: INGLES MARKETS 6 STORY 1: Parents demand action on bullying after student’s death  Emotions ran high at the Nov. 13 Rockdale County Board of Education meeting, the first since the tragic death of sixth-grader Brandon Vargas. Parents and advocates demanded action—on bullying, safety, and better communication. “This tragedy shook us all,” said Barbie Hines, a parent leader. “Families are grieving, scared, and fed up.” She described issues ranging from bullying (even by staff) to weapons on buses and ignored cries for help. Educational psychologist candidate Lisha Wallace proposed a “Walk in Our Shoes” initiative, urging leaders to spend a week in classrooms to see the challenges firsthand. “Parents just want their kids safe,” said newly-elected councilman Anthony Garcia Pacheco. “This is a wake-up call.” The board acknowledged concerns but offered no immediate solutions. STORY 2: Madison-Morgan Community Food Pantry To Deliver Hot Holiday Meals On Thanksgiving Day As grocery prices soar and food insecurity grows, many families in Morgan County are bracing for a tough Thanksgiving. But the Madison-Morgan Community Food Pantry (MMCFP) is stepping up—again. For the fifth year, MMCFP is teaming up with local restaurants, churches, and businesses to cook, package, and deliver 250+ hot Thanksgiving meals on Nov. 27. Volunteers will gather at Hallie Jane’s Catering, where Hallie Jane herself will oversee the feast prep. The menu? Turkey or ham, with all the fixings. “Thanksgiving is about feeling seen and cared for,” said MMCFP director Sherry Terrell. “No one should go without.” STORY 3: Rotary clubs help fill empty stockings this Christmas   This Christmas, the Rotary Clubs of Rockdale County and Conyers are teaming up with Rockdale Emergency Relief (RER) to make sure no child wakes up to an empty stocking. Their goal? Raise $16,000—$8,000 per club—to bring holiday cheer to 106 kids from families hit hard by job loss, illness, or other struggles. RER carefully vets each family, ensuring the need is real, and even offers budgeting classes to help parents get back on their feet. Rotarians and high school Interact Club members will shop for every child, covering essentials like coats and shoes—and, of course, the toys that make Christmas magical. Want to help? Check out their website or mail a check to RER Empty Stocking, 350 Tall Oaks Drive, SE, Conyers, GA 30013. Every dollar goes straight to the kids. We have opportunities for sponsors to get great engagement on these shows. Call 770.799.6810 for more info. We’ll be right back Break: INGLES MARKETS 7 STORY 4: Madison Water Rates Jump 33 Percent  Madison residents are reeling after opening their latest utility bills—water, sewer, gas, and trash all bundled together—and seeing jaw-dropping increases. The main culprit? A 33% hike in water rates, approved this summer by the mayor and city council to fund long-overdue infrastructure projects. For homeowners, water rates jumped from $6.62 to $8.81 per 1,000 gallons. Trash service? Now $23 a month, up from $18. And let’s not forget the natural gas and sewer rate increases, all effective August 1. Public Works Director Shawn Wood defended the hikes, saying they’re necessary to fund $20 million in infrastructure upgrades over the next five years. Still, for many, the timing couldn’t be worse—especially after six Georgia Power rate hikes since 2022. STORY 5: WW2 veteran Otto Shipman celebrates 102nd birthday   With family, friends, and fellow veterans by his side, World War II veteran Private First Class Otto Shipman marked an incredible milestone last week—his 102nd birthday. The celebration, held at his home, was filled with laughter, stories, and heartfelt tributes. Rockdale County Chair JaNice Van Ness joined the gathering, presenting Shipman with a proclamation honoring his service in the U.S. Army Signal Corps during WWII. Shipman’s family shared memories of his independence—driving to Home Depot and tending his garden well ...